Ontological Shock and Public Response to Potential Nonhuman Intelligence: Belief, Uncertainty, and Mental Health Implications

To the point

If nonhuman intelligence is confirmed, people will react in diverse ways—from concern and curiosity to skepticism—shaped by prior beliefs and media framing such as Steven Spielberg's Disclosure Day, a pattern captured by Tim Lomas's four response categories, with many Americans already open to the idea and mental health professionals needing to help vulnerable individuals navigate a larger, more uncertain cosmos.